EWJ

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is an exchange-traded fund designed to provide investors with exposure to the Japanese equity market through a diversified portfolio of large-cap and mid-cap stocks. The fund tracks the MSCI Japan Index, a market-cap-weighted index that represents approximately 85% of the investable market capitalization of Japan's publicly traded equities. EWJ was launched in 1996 and has become one of the most widely used vehicles for gaining Japanese stock market exposure, holding hundreds of individual companies across various sectors including technology, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. The fund's objective is to replicate the performance of the underlying MSCI Japan Index by holding a representative sample of Japanese companies, providing investors with a liquid and cost-effective way to participate in Japan's economic growth. By consolidating exposure to Japan's major corporations into a single tradable instrument, EWJ democratizes access to the Japanese market for retail and institutional investors alike, eliminating the need to purchase individual Japanese stocks or navigate foreign exchange complexities directly.